Autographs - what age did they start interesting kids?

[msmama]

So what age were your kids when they started getting character autographs?

We're gong with my 9 mo old next week. Obviously I know he won't care now but I thought it might be nice for him to have when he gets a little bigger. Of course hopefully we'll go back in the next few years, too.

I think I'd like to do one of the autograph/picture book but DH thinks its silly.

Oh, and I do realize adults get autographs, too but I'm mostly asking about kids n.

 

[Disneychix]

We took DS at 19 months and he wasn't into the characters up close at all. He liked seeing them but didn't like touching or hugging them. We didn't do autographs.

He does, however, LOVE to look at the pictures we took of the chracters and us at WDW! He sits there for a long time turning the pages of an album I put together of our trip.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

DD3 & DS5 were more interested in meeting the characters than getting their autographs so we didn't get many...basically the main ones. DS even got over the meet n greets after 4 of a 9 day trip...UGH, missed cute photo ops!
This is what we did and DD helped decorate the frames.

More autographs? Better organize the signatures and/or use a larger mat

 

[RMulieri]

DD was 4 her first trip and at first terrified of the characters.By weeks end she was collecting autographs.

 

[reenie1]

Our first trip, DD was 2, almost 3, and was intrigued by the characters, but scared to go up to them. We got her an autograph book and it did the trick! It was so funny to see her standing arms-length away reaching her book out to the characters at first. In no time she got over her fear and has loved getting autographs ever since.

 

[emmababy]

DD3 & DS5 were more interested in meeting the characters than getting their autographs so we didn't get many...basically the main ones. DS even got over the meet n greets after 4 of a 9 day trip...UGH, missed cute photo ops!
This is what we did and DD helped decorate the frames.

More autographs? Better organize the signatures and/or use a larger mat

This is a great idea! What size is the frame? Did you take the frame with you everyday?

 

[Crystal824]

My 4 year of nephew was more into the characters and autographs than the attractions.

 

[liznboys]

ilandrazdsw, I love the frame idea!!! Thanks for the picture. I think we may do that!

Anyway, ours have been 3-5 when they started getting autographs. I don't really enjoy carrying around the books, and we have 4 kids so that's a lot of books. lol My youngest is 2.5 and doesn't have any autograph book(s) yet. I'll wait until he shows interest, could be when he's 3, 4, 5.. We'll see.

 

[aggie98]

My 4 year old loved it. I took a DIS suggestion and found a Disney storybook collection and had the characters sign their stories. If they didn't have a story they'd just sign the inside or back cover.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

This is a great idea! What size is the frame? Did you take the frame with you everyday?

The frames are 8x10. The mats were bought seperately because they needed to be rather sturdy (some frames do come with good mats). We did not take the frame every day. We had primarily character meals so it easy in that respect. It fit fine in the backpack and is light weight (only brought the mat, not the frame to WDW). You could do a larger frame size with still a 4x6 pic or a 5x7. Know what way you plan to frame the picture so you can give it to the characters in the right position...after a few they get which way. The first signatures have a tendency to be rather large...remind the characters they need to leave room for their friends. Face characters can fit their signatures bewteen larger ones. Also the characters signed in the same places on both mats.
Disney had some really pretty frames, but I wanted DD to add her touch (she did hers and DS'. A few stickers and gems from a craft store was really easy (and cheap)...you could also use paints, markers, etc.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Another autograph idea (slightly OT)...My best friend's birthday was the day we left from WDW. I got a princess postcard (could have brought a b-day card) and had all the princess sign it and then I wrote a message for the b-day princess.

Love the idea of characters signing their books.

 

[DISNEYNV]

Our DD was four and a half on our last trip in December and was really into the autograph thing this time around. My DS was only thirteen months so we justgot the main characters to sign his book but he did love the characters and was not scared

 

[mandynee22]

When DS was 18m he thought it was awesome. He hugged them all and brought up his little book. It took till after the first three or four characters of our trip, before that DD brought his book for him and he hugged/shook hands. He understood the point after that and got really into it
I think you should bring a book- truthfully, the baby probably won't care even when he's bigger (I mean... look at sigs in a book or SEE the characters??? Hmmmm) but it's a nice memory for you LOL

 

[DRS_Are_Best]

We're going to get autographs this trip -- the 3 kids are nearly 4 and 26month old twins. DH saw a recommendation of having actual autographs only on one side of the book and attach pictures with the kids together with the characters opposite. I doubt they'll be interested now, but it will be nice in several years, when they MIGHT be interested, to be able to pull the book out and show them that when they went to WDW in 2009, they saw these characters -- with the pictures there as evidence (since I doubt the twins especially will have much memory of the trip).

Just what we're planning....